Page 386 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New York City

384  SUR VIV AL GUIDE

Traveling by Bus

Traveling by bus is a good way to take in many of New York’s
sights. The city’s 4,000-plus blue-and-white buses cover more
than 200 routes in the five boroughs. Many run 24 hours a
day, every day. The buses are modern, clean, air-conditioned,
and energy-efficient. They are also quite safe and tend not to
get crowded, except during rush hours. Smoking and eating
are forbidden on all public buses, and only service animals
(guide dogs) are allowed on board.
Tickets and Fares every two or three blocks.
Crosstown buses run east–west Bus stop in Midtown Manhattan
You can pay the $2.75 fare on and usually stop at every block,
a bus using a MetroCard (see with the exception of Park Using Buses
p382), or exact change in coins. Avenue, which is skipped Most buses run every 3–5
Note that fares are expected to by some lines. Many routes minutes during the morning
rise in 2017. Bus drivers cannot run a 24-hour daily service. and evening rush hours, and
make change, and fare boxes Bus stops are marked by red, every 7–15 minutes from noon
do not accept dollar bills, half- white, and blue signs, and yellow to 4:30pm and from 7 to 10pm.
dollars, or pennies. You can buy a paint along the curb. Most also Bad traffic or adverse weather
Metro Card at any subway station have bus shelters; newer shelters conditions can cause delays.
booth or machine and at many provide seating and helpful Service is reduced on weekends
other outlets around the city. signs giving the location. A route and holidays.
If you need to take more than map and schedule is posted at Enter the bus at the front
one bus to reach your destina- each stop. Buses use letters to door. If you are unsure of your
tion, you are eligible for a free indicate the boroughs they route, ask the driver if they will
transfer. If you pay your fare with serve: M for Manhattan, B for be stopping at your destination
a MetroCard, transfers to bus or Brooklyn, Bx for the Bronx, and or close to it. The majority of
subway are auto matically placed Q for Queens. Bus stops often New York’s bus drivers are
electronically on the card. If serve several routes, so check helpful and will call out your
you use cash, ask the driver for the maps at the stop for your stop if you ask when you board.
a transfer ticket when you pay. route, then look for that route Put your MetroCard in the slot
Transfers are good for 2 hours. number posted on the lighted or drop the correct coins in the
Senior citizens with proof of age strip above the wind shield on fare box, then look for a seat.
and the disabled pay half-fare. All the front of the bus. To request a stop when
buses can “kneel,” lowering the Some buses will be marked traveling on the bus, press
steps to help elderly people to “Limited,” indicated by a flash ing the yellow vertical call strip
board (see p364). They are also sign in the route number space between the windows. Some
acces sible to wheelchairs via a and by a card in the front newer buses also have stop
lift with ramp, at the rear or front window. These buses are faster buttons on center poles. A “Stop
depending on the bus design. since they make fewer stops, Requested” sign near the driver
but be sure the stops they do will then light up. If the bus
make are near your destination. is crowded, it is wise to start
Bus Stops
Limited buses do stop at streets moving toward the exit door
Buses will stop only at con necting to crosstown buses. when you are a few blocks
designated bus stops. They Free city bus maps are often from your stop.
follow north–south routes on available on board; ask the Leave through the double
the major avenues, stopping driver for a copy. door located toward the rear
of the bus. The driver will
activate the door release as
soon as the bus has stopped,
and a green light will go on
above the door. You then
push the yellow stripe on the
door, and the doors will open
automatically; they will stay
open long enough for everyone
to leave. If the strip does not
work properly, just push the
door and then hold it open
for the passenger behind you
The M86 crosstown bus traveling through Central Park as you leave.

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